Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) (10 page)

“What does it say?”

Gemma moved to look over his shoulder.

“Harrison.”

“He wrote you?” Her eyes danced. “Well, open
one!”

He shakily unfastened the bundle and tore
open the first letter.

My dear son, Harrison,

It does seem odd writing to you, when we
have never met, but from the stories I’ve heard, I’m sure we would
get along just fine. My gratitude towards the young woman who saved
me is unfathomable. To have this chance to write to you is more
than I could ever hope for.

My heart will forever remain broken that I
never got to hold you or raise you as my own, but I take comfort in
knowing that I may in fact be able to teach you a few things I have
learned throughout my years. May these letters be a blessing to
you, son.

My progress to New York is going smoothly.
No sickness has befallen our ship and so we gratefully head across
these oceans to a new life of promise. I will continue to diary my
journey for you and include as much history of my life with Helena
as I deem appropriate.

And so I end this first letter with a piece
of advice my grandfather once told me. ‘Love your woman as if she
was a precious jewel and you will forever have a happy home.’

Farewell for now, I will write again when I
reach American shores.

Though I will never see you, I feel
confident ending my correspondence this way, because if I had but
one chance to glimpse your face, I’d know it to be true.

I love you, Harrison.

Your father,

Nathaniel

Tears were inching their way down his face by
the time he had finished. Gemma squeezed his shoulder.

“He was such an amazing man. I wish you could
have met him.”

“I just did.” He sniffed then quirked a
smile, feeling a lightness he couldn’t describe.

“Well.” Gemma cleared her throat. “I loathe
saying this, but I have to go.” She pouted then rose to her
feet.

Jumping up with a smile, he rubbed her arms,
trying to decimate her grey mood.

“We’ll be seeing each other again in less
than 24 hours.”

“Yeah.” Gemma forced a smile. “Hey, good luck
with your mom. I hope she takes it well.”

“Me too.” He glanced back down at her mammoth
stack of letters then shot a look at Gemma, sudden guilt gripping
him. “You needed to tell me something this morning. I forgot to ask
again, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She waved her hand. “Some other
time. We need to make sure you don’t go anywhere first.”

She forced a smile and his eyes narrowed.

“No, seriously Harrison, it’s fine. Later.
I’ve really got to go.”

He let her leave after a little more
assurance. As he bent to clear away the evidence, his worries for
Gemma ebbed and his mind built with anticipation. Gathering up the
letters, he placed them in the leather pouch.

“This is it.”

Swerving into the driveway, he yanked up the
parking brake and strode into the house. Jumping around a stack of
boxes he walked through the kitchen hollering for his mother.

“I’m in your room!” she called back, her
voice sounding worn and irritated.

Harrison took the stairs two at a time and
paused in his doorway. His mother was systematically packing away
his belongings. His shelves were clear and she was now working on
dismantling his computer.

“Mom. Stop. Please stop.” He kept his voice
gentle, trying to quell his vexation.

“Well, someone needs to pack up your room
before Sunday and you’ve made it abundantly clear that you’re not
going to, so I guess that just leaves me.”

She yanked a cable from the back of his
screen, making Harrison wince. Stepping forward he stilled his
mother’s frantic fingers as she tried to ravel the cord.

“Mom, we need to talk.”

“What do you want to say to me now, Harrison?
That I’m a selfish mother? That I’m an inconsiderate wife?” She
sighed and rubbed her forehead.

“No.” He stepped back from her. “I just want
to give you something.” Reaching into his bag, he produced the
leather pouch.

His mother’s face puckered with confusion.
“What’s that?”

“It’s a stack of letters… from
Nathaniel.”

Her face went white and her eyes rounded.
“Where did you… how?” She shook her head. “Just give them to
me.”

She snatched them from him and yanked the
pouch open. Her frenetic movements stopped as quickly as they began
and Harrison watched her stone figure gaze at the handwriting. Her
lips shook and her eyes built with tears.

“It’s his writing. Where did you get
these?”

“Gemma and I dug them up from a small plot at
the St. Augustine Cathedral cemetery, about half an hour ago.”

“How did they… I mean, how did I not know?
All record of him is lost once he left New York. I haven’t been
able to find anything!”

“I don’t know what he got up to, but these
letters might enlighten you.” He pointed to them. “They were pretty
well hidden. No one could find them unless they knew exactly where
they were going.”

“So how did you know?”

Thrusting his hands into his pockets, he
cleared his throat and rocked back on his heels. “Gemma gave him
very specific instructions before making sure he boarded the
Albion.”

“Gemma?”

He nodded. Helen slumped to the bed and
closed her eyes. Harrison waited out the silence. It took an age,
but she finally whispered.

“For years now I’ve been having nightmares
that Nathaniel is searching for me. He can’t find me and he never
makes it to the ship, because he…” her voice wobbled, “he gets
murdered in the forest by a group of bandits.” She licked her lips
before continuing. “I didn’t have that dream last night. In fact I
didn’t dream at all.” Her eyes swam as she looked up at Harrison.
“Would I be right in assuming that up until yesterday my dreams
were in fact reality?”

“Yes,” he croaked.

“She went back to save his life?”

Harrison came around the bed and knelt before
her. “She went back to save yours.”

His mother’s body shook with tears. Harrison
gathered up her free hand and rubbed his thumb over her skin.

“Mom, read the letters. Just stop packing and
read the letters.”

That said, Harrison stood from his spot and
left the room, closing the door behind him.

Chapter
Fourteen

Anastasia State Park, Florida – 2011AD

“So?” Gabe looked expectant.

The sun was beginning its descent. The
pelicans were dive-bombing the ocean and Gemma was nestled with her
feet in the sand. Gabe had suggested they meet at the beach. He
wanted to see why her and Harrison loved it so much. From the look
on his face when he pulled to a stop, Gemma could see he got
it.

She had one full hour with him before she had
to head home for a Sunday night dinner, so only made him suffer a
few seconds before breaking into a smile.

“They’re not moving!”

Gabe laughed at her squeal.

“What happened?”

“Well, Harrison gave her the letters and she
stayed in his room for the whole night reading them. The next
morning she was a different woman. She walked into the dining room
and announced to everyone that she’d changed her mind… that moving
to DC was too disruptive for the family.”

“They must have been pretty pleased.”

“Rosie practically flew to school.”

Gabe grinned.

“You must be relieved.”

“I am.” Gemma breathed and exhaled a peaceful
sigh. “It’s so great knowing Harrison isn’t going anywhere… and
he’s so relaxed and happy now. The last couple of days have been
awesome.”

“But something’s still bothering you.”

Her shoulders slumped. One thing she loved
and hated about her father was that he could read her like a
book.

“It’s two things actually.”

“Go on.”

“Well, I guess I was kind of hoping that
after Helen had the letters she’d stop hating me and I could see
Harrison again without it being a problem.”

“I take it she hasn’t said anything.”

“Not a word. Harrison said he was going to
talk to her about it today, while I was with you, so I guess I
shouldn’t worry too much, but I don’t know. What if she still
doesn’t want me around?”

“Then she’s a fool.” Gabe wrapped his arm
around her shoulders and kissed her head. “What’s the other
thing?”

Popping her thumbnail into her mouth, she
clicked it between her teeth.

“I think I threw a spanner in my parents’
work.”

“What do you mean?” Gabe’s body tensed like
it did every time the Hart’s were mentioned.

“Something I did back in 1820 changed
something they were planning to do. I heard them talking about how
his research had changed and his pages were blank and then they
were going on about having to find it and something being perfect.”
She stopped, hearing how absurd she sounded. “I don’t know if it
was something I did, but I have this really bad feeling in my gut.
I can’t explain how, but I know it’s about me.”

It felt good to share her fears, except for
the fact that it made them so real. She hadn’t had a chance to tell
Harrison any of this. He had been on such a high the last few days,
gushing about his father’s letters and his amazing conversations
with his mother. They had been talking late into the evenings.
Harrison now knew all about how they met and why she had chosen to
stay. Gemma’s theory about her leaving because she was pregnant had
been correct. Harrison had been so grateful for his mother’s
sacrifice and the two of them had been making huge progress on
mending their stilted relationship. Gemma was so happy for them
both and didn’t want to burden him with concerns that didn’t
directly affect him. Gabe on the other hand…

“They also said something about the
patronus
. Do you know what they’re talking about?”

Gabe went very still. Dropping his arm, he
ran his hand through his hair then leaned forward onto his
elbows.

“I haven’t heard mention of them in
years.”

“Who are they?”

“Well, from what I understand, the
patronus
are the protectors of the box. They would do
anything to make sure it remains locked. I don’t really know much
more about it, but they’ve spent centuries fighting off the
liberatio
.”

“Let me guess, the ones who want to liberate
the box.”

“You got it.” Gabe’s head shook as he looked
out at the ocean. “I can’t believe how true all these stories are
turning out to be. When I was told them as a kid there was always
this element of mystery surrounding them. It was easy to fool
yourself into believing they were only based on vague facts.”

“Do you think Alistair and Penelope are part
of the
liberatio
?”

Gabe shrugged. “Maybe.”

“They’re still looking for that last piece
aren’t they?”

Gabe’s face was hard as he nodded.
“Definitely.”

“I wonder if Nathaniel had it? But why would
he have it? He’s not even one of us.”

“Helen is.”

“Do you think she might have given it to
him?”

“Sounds like she may have. You’re going to
need to ask her. In fact, I’d be mighty keen to find out why she
was back there in the first place.”

“How am I supposed to ask her a question like
that? She won’t even acknowledge me.”

“That may change. Let’s not lose hope
there.”

“What should I do in the meantime?”

“Just keep an eye on things and watch your
back. Keep telling me about any unusual conversations. We may need
to keep an eye on Helen now too. If Alistair works out that she’s
somehow involved, things could get dangerous for her.”

“Thankfully they’re still living under the
assumption that she no longer exists. I can’t believe they haven’t
spotted that glitch in history. I’m living on borrowed luck with
this one. It’s only a matter of time before they notice.”

“Well, you need to make the most of that
time.”

Gemma’s lips fluttered with a smile.

“I fear that nothing’s going to stand in
their way when it comes to getting that Decimus piece.”

“I’ll keep my eyes wide open and listen
through as many key holes as I can.”

Gabe shot her a proud grin.

“I guess we should be grateful you’ve screwed
up their plans. That little trip back to 1820 did more good than we
thought.”

Gemma nodded.

A comfortable silence settled as they both
took a thought path of their own. The waves created a soothing
soundtrack to their meanderings, but Gemma’s spirit could not be
settled.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

Gabe’s arm moved around her providing a warm
shield.

“I’m not going to let them hurt you,
Lucia.”

“But what if they find out I can travel on my
own? It’s not just me I worry about. What if they get to Harrison
and his family? What if they get to you?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Right now we need to focus on stopping them from getting that last
piece.”

Gemma worried her lip while Gabe stroked her
back. His calming movements did nothing to quell her agitation.
Life just seemed to be getting harder and the more she fought, the
less control she had.

Gabe moved away from her side, distracting
her.

“Here.” He rummaged in his bag and brought
out a book shaped gift.

“What’s this?” Gemma took it with a
smile.

“Your birthday present.”

“But it’s not until Tuesday.”

“Yeah, well I don’t get to see you then, so…”
He blushed and nudged her shoulder. “Just open it.”

She took her time peeling back the paper.
Inside was a framed photo of a beautiful woman with dark hair; her
eyes were gleaming with insatiable joy. In her arms she cradled a
newborn, wrapped in a pink blanket with a tuft of dark hair
protruding from the top.